Direction-signal and alarm.



B. 6: G. F. CURTISS. DiRECTION SIGNAL AND ALARM. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I5. 191s.

1 2%3fi66 Patented Oct. 16,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- i O 17 5 3 Y 4 6 MMFUXM' J9 I 16 B. & G. F. CURHSS. DlRECTiON SIGNAL AND ALARM. APPLICATION HLED AUG.15.19\6.

1,243,266 Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

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BERT CURTISS, OF YPSILAINTI, AND GEORGE E. CURTISS, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN.

DIRECTIQN-SIGNAL AND ALARM.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed August 15, 1916. Serial No. 115,035.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BERT (harms and GEORGE F. CURTIss, citizens of the United States, residing at Ypsilanti and Plymouth, respectively, in the counties of Washtenaw and Wayne, respectively, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Signals and Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improved direction signal and alarm for motor vehicles and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character wherein a driver may apprise a followingdriver of an intention to turn either to the right or left or stop, and at the same time, sound an alarm to thus attract the notice ofthe driver following to the signal displayed.

The invention has as a further object to provide a device 'of this character which will be electrically operated and wherein the de vice will operate to simultaneously give a signaland sound the alarm.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a device of this character which will be compact, which may be easily applied to motor vehicles of any conventional type and wherein the mechanism of the device will be housed within a suitable casing so that it will beprotected from the weather and will thus not be likely to get out of order.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein we have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with the side and top walls of the cas ing removed and particularly showing the mounting of the gate which carries the screen employed for giving a signal,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view' more particularly showing the arrangement of the mechanism of the device within the casing therefor, i Fig. 3 is a plan view with the casing shown in section and illustrating the actuating mechanism for the gate,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the door arranged at one end of the casing, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connection which may be employed inconnection with a Pair of the de vices when mounted upon a vehicle.

In carrying out the invention, a casing is employed which includes a bottom wall 10, a top wall 11, and a sidewall 12. This casing may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and is preferably of. the general shape illustrated. At one end of the casing, the side wall 12 thereof is provided with an opening closed by a hingedly mounted door 13 carrying a suitable transparent pane It. Any approved type of latch 15 may be employed for normally'holding the door closed. Mounted in the adja cent extremity of-the casing and connected with the bottom wall 10 thereof, is a lamp socket 16 which may be of any approved type and dctachably receives an incandescent lamp 17, arranged opposite the door 13 so that the light from the said lamp-will shine through the pane 14 of the door.

Mounted within the casing, adjacent the extremity thereof, opposite the lamp socket 16, are solenoids 18 supported by a bracket 19 connected to the bottom wall 10 of the casing. Associated with the said solenoids, in the usual manner, is a bell tapper 20 of an alarm. This tapper is bent to project freely through a suitable opening in the top 'wall 11 of the casing and is arranged to cooperate with a bell 21 mounted upon the casing adjacent the solenoids '18, are co acting solenoids 23 coiiperating with which is an armature 24. This armature is swingingly supported by a shaft 25 pivotally mounted upon suitable posts 26 upstanding from the bottom wall 10 of the casing, Projecting forwardly from the armature 24 is an arm 27 to the outer extremity of which is inwardly directed lower terminal or arm *tswingingly'connected a link 28 having an will now be clear, enengizationi of the sole-.

29 freely engaged with one arm of a bell crank lever 30. The bell crank lever 30 is pivotally supported by a bracket 31 upon the bottom wall 10 of the casing with the other arm thereof projecting upwardly and pivotally receiving a link 32. Mounted upon the bottom wall 10 of thecasing in advance of'thebracket 31' is a bearing plate 33 adjacent the inner extremity of which are arranged upstanding posts 3 1 and 35' respec-' tively. Pivotally. mounted upon the post 8% and supported thereon by a suitable collar, as best shown in Fig. 2 of-t'he drawings,.is a toothed segment 86, the inner extremity of which is-eXt-ended to provide an upwardly and rearwardly directed arm 37" having the noids 23; will attract the armature 24: to

move the link 28 downwardly and conse-.

quently'swing the bell. crank lever 30.. Movement of the bell crank lever30. will, through post 3 1 lVlounted to cooperate with the lamp 1? isa signaling-screen including a segmental body 39 from which depends a frame 4:0 having upper and lower longitudinally curved channel" members 41 for receiving a transparent colored plate 42. The plate 42 maybe formed of celluloid, glass, or other suitable material and will be preferablycoloredvred' so that when the screen is swungto active position, as shall be presently described, a red signallight will: be projected through the door 1.3-upon the energization of the-filament of the-lamp 17x. Swinging-1y supporting the screen. within the casing is a. rock shaft43- which, at its. lower extremity, isreceived by' the bearingplate 33; and: at its upper extremity, is engaged by a bean. ing: screw 4:4 adjustable through the top wall:11' of the casing'wi-ththe body- 39 ofIthescreenfixed tothe shaft adjacentits upper extremity. The shaft 13,. adjacent its lower extremity, is arranged to abut thefree arm I of the angle plate38 with the arm; providing a bearing for thesaid shaft intermediate its ends and mounted upon the shaft be: tween the said 'arm' and the bearing plate 33, is a pinion 45. arranged to cooperate with V the toothed, segment" 36;vv Thus, upon the pivotal movement: of the: said. segment, as pnevinusly' described, the; shaft. 4:3;will be rotatedand the screen swung from inactive position at. one side of. the. dean 1:3 to, active position with; the; plate arranged in; front.

front of the lamp 1?.

naeaeee of the pane 14: of the door so that the light from the lamp 1'? may shine through the said plate and through the pane for giving a signal. 7

Connected to the frame. 40 of the screen at one side thereof, is a suitable spring 46 which, at its inner end, is attached to a screw or other suitable terminal 47 carried by. the wall. 12 of the casing at one side thereof 'with the said spring normally tending to urgethe screen to inactive position. Arranged to limit the screen in its movementundentheinfiuence of the spring 46, is a stop 48 while a similar stop 49 is provided for limiting. the said-I screen in its movement to. active position.

As will=now be-observed, all of the mechanism of the device is. inelosedi within the casing so that the said? mechanismvv will not be exposed to the weather and will thus not be likely toget out of order. Adjacent thedoor- 13, the top. wall 11' of the casing is: arranged to overhang the door as more particularly shown in Fig; 2 of the drawings, to. provide aprotectiontherefor.

However, should any water gainventrance to I the casing, drain openings 50 are provided against the possibility of the water being retained w1th1n the casing.

In use, one of our improved-i devices.

approved manner at each sidethereof; Suitable electric conductors onwires 51 are carried from a battery; or other convenient minals of the coacting sol'enoids 23,. the terminals of the solenoids: 18; and to the ter minals for the: lamps 17, these all being in- V cluded in a singlecircuit having a twopoint switch interposed .thereln. Such .in. the bottom wall 10 thereof to guard be attached to the. rear-of a. vehicle in any I switch may be conveniently located upon the vehicle adjacent the driver s seat. Consequently. the driver by properlyoperating the said switch as" will be'well' understood,

vit will be observed that current flowingthrough the wires 51 will, through: the medium of the solenoids-18 and"23-, ringthe bell 21 to sound an alarm andsimultane-' 'ously actuate the screen in. the manner pre- VlOUSlYz' described to: shift the plate 42' in Also, the said lamp will be simultaneouslylighted for giving a signal at the side oft/he, vehicle correspondingzto the d1rect1on=1nwhich 1t isinten d'ed toturn; in this connection, attention is directed to..the.- fact that thespring: 46 will 1 normally hold the screen away from the door openingvz-softhati the headlights "from the observance of a false signal.

It will therefore be seen that we provide an exceedingly simple and efficient construction forthe purpose set forth wherein'a driver may easily signal the driver following an intention to turn or stop and wherein an alarm will be simultaneously sounded for attracting the attention of the driver following to the signal and while We have indicated thattwo'of the devices are preferably employed upon a vehicle, still, one may be used and will be found effieient.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, a rock shaft journaled at one end upon the bottom wall of the casing, a bearing screw adjustable through the top wall of the casing and engaging the opposite end of said shaft, a screen body connected to the shaft with the said shaft supporting the body to swing in front of said opening, and means for rocking said shaft.

2. A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, a rock shaft journaled at one end upon the bottom wall of the casing, means carried by the top wall of the casing and engaging the opposite end of the shaft, a screen body connected to said shaft with the shaft supporting the said body to swing in front of said opening, a post upstanding from the bottom wall, a bracket connected to said post and providing a bearing for the shaft intermediate the ends thereof, and means for rocking said shaft.

3. A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, a bearing plate mounted upon the bottom wall of the casing, a rock shaft journaled at one end upon said plate, means carried by the top wall of the casing and engaging the opposite end of said shaft, a screen body connected to the shaft with the shaft supporting the said body to swing in front of said opening, upstanding posts connected to said plate, an angle bracket connected to said posts and having one end thereof ensaid shaft to provide a bearing therefor intermediate the ends of the said shaft, and means for rocking the said shaft.

a A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, arock shaft journaled at one end upon the bottom wall of the casing, means carried by the top wall of the casing and engaging the opposite end of said shaft, a screen body connected to the shaft with the shaft supporting said body to swing in front of said opening, a post upstanding from the bottom wall of the casing, and a toothed segment mounted to swing uponthe said post and operatively engaging said shaft for rocking the shaft. I

r 5. A device of the character described in cluding a casing provided withan opening, a rock shaft journaled at one end upon the bottom wall of the casing, means carried by the top wall of the casing and engaging the opposite endof said shaft,a screen body connected with the shaft with the shaft supporting the said body to swing in front of said opening, a post upstanding from the bottom wall of the casing, a bracket connected to said post and engaging the said shaft to provide abearing therefor intermediate the ends of the shaft, and a toothed segment mounted to swing upon the said post and operatively engaging the shaft at a point between the said bracket and the bottom wall of the casing for rocking the shaft.

6. A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, a rock shaft journaled at one end upon the bottom wall of the casing, means carried by the top wall. of the casing and engaging the opposite end of the shaft, a screen body connected to said shaft with the shaft supporting the said body to swing in front of said opening, a stop carried by the side wall of the casing at one side of said opening for limiting the screen body in its movement to active position, a stop carried by the side wall of the casing at the opposite side of said opening for limiting the screen body in its movement to inactive position, yieldable means connected to the screen body for normally holding the said body in engagement with said last mentioned stop, and means operatively engaging with said shaft for rocking the shaft to swing the screen body against the tension of said yieldable means.

7. A device of the character described including a casing provided with an opening, a rock shaft journaled between the top and bottom walls of the casing, a screen body connected to said shaft and supported thereby to swing in front of said opening, a post upstanding from the bottom wall of the casing, a toothed segment mounted to swing upon the said post and operatively engaging said shaft for rocking the shaft, said segment being extended at its rear extremity to provide an arm, an electro-magnet, a pivoted armature for the magnet, a bell crank lever mounted upon the bottom wall of the'casing, a link connecting one arm of said lever with the arm of said segment, and a second link connecting the other arm of said lever with said armature with the armature operable for swinging the said segment,

Oopiesmf thismatent may be obtained for- 8; A device of the character described including a casing provided With an opening, at screen arranged tosW-mg 1n front of, sa d opening and including a rock shaft for supportlng the screen, a swlnglngly mounted toothed segment operatively engaging said;

shaft for rocking the shaft, an electro-magnet, 2 pivoted armaturetherefor extended the said segment, and a link connected at;

one extremity to: the; arm of said armatureand ben s pp site: e emi y o; P vide an arm engaging with theother, arm of said lever, With v the armature operable 'for swinging the said segment.

In testimony whereof We afiiX our, signatunes,

BERT CU ISS-M five cents each, by addressing-theCommissioner, of Patents, Washington. D. 0. 

